Preventing Concurrent Distribution of Network Data to a Hardware Switch by Multiple Controllers
a hardware switch and network data technology, applied in data switching networks, digital transmission, electrical equipment, etc., can solve the problems of central controllers subject to malicious network attacks and negative impact on network scalability, and achieve easy scalability, high availability, and efficient handling of new physical workloads
Active Publication Date: 2017-03-30
NICIRA
View PDF2 Cites 57 Cited by
- Summary
- Abstract
- Description
- Claims
- Application Information
AI Technical Summary
Benefits of technology
The patent describes a system for managing and configuring hardware switches to implement logical networks. A central controller assigns master controllers for each switch and pushes down network data to them in the form of database transactions. These transactions are applied to a database on the switch using a specific schema. The system also includes a mechanism for detecting and preventing concurrent distribution of network data to improve stability. The technical effects of this system include scalability, high availability, and efficient management of hardware switches.
Problems solved by technology
One of the challenges in today's hosting system networks is extending the virtual networks (e.g., of one or more tenants) to other physical networks through hardware switches (e.g., third party hardware switches).
Having a central network controller communicate directly with one or more hardware switches (in order to configure and manage the switches) leaves the central controller subject to malicious network attacks.
Additionally, direct communication with the hardware switches causes a negative affect on network scalability.
Method used
the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
View moreImage
Smart Image Click on the blue labels to locate them in the text.
Smart ImageViewing Examples
Examples
Experimental program
Comparison scheme
Effect test
Embodiment Construction
[0029]In the following detailed description of the invention, numerous details, examples, and embodiments of the invention are set forth and described. However, it should be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments set forth and that the invention may be practiced without some of the specific details and examples discussed.
[0030]Some embodiments provide one or more managed hardware forwarding element (MHFE) controllers each of which is responsible for managing a set of MHFEs (e.g., third-party hardware devices such as top of rack (TOR) hardware switches, routers, appliances, etc.) in order to integrate the MHFEs with one or more logical networks. In some embodiments, each MHFE controller serves as an intermediary between one or more central controllers in a central control plane (CCP) cluster and one or more MHFEs. The CCP cluster of some embodiments computes the configuration and forwarding data for the logical networks and distributes these data to the MHFEs...
the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
Login to View More PUM
Login to View More Abstract
Some embodiments provide, for a first controller application, a method for configuring a managed hardware forwarding element (MHFE) to implement one or more logical networks. The method of some embodiments receives logical network data that defines at least one logical forwarding element of a logical network to be implemented by the MHFE. The method then identifies a set of tables of a database instance that is instantiated on the MHFE in order to distribute the logical network data to the MHFE. In some embodiments, the method monitors the identified set of tables in order to determine whether a second controller application updates any one of the set of tables. The method distributes the logical network data to the MHFE so long as none of the tables in the set of tables is updated by the second controller application.
Description
BACKGROUND[0001]One of the challenges in today's hosting system networks is extending the virtual networks (e.g., of one or more tenants) to other physical networks through hardware switches (e.g., third party hardware switches). Having a central network controller communicate directly with one or more hardware switches (in order to configure and manage the switches) leaves the central controller subject to malicious network attacks. Additionally, direct communication with the hardware switches causes a negative affect on network scalability. Therefore, there is a need for an efficient architecture that allows the central network controller to configure and manage hardware switches in order to integrate these switches with one or more virtual networks.BRIEF SUMMARY[0002]Some embodiments provide one or more managed hardware forwarding element (MHFE) controllers each of which is responsible for managing a set of MHFEs (e.g., third-party hardware switches, routers, appliances, etc.) in...
Claims
the structure of the environmentally friendly knitted fabric provided by the present invention; figure 2 Flow chart of the yarn wrapping machine for environmentally friendly knitted fabrics and storage devices; image 3 Is the parameter map of the yarn covering machine
Login to View More Application Information
Patent Timeline
Login to View More Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): H04L12/24
CPCH04L41/24H04L41/044H04L41/0813H04L41/0873H04L41/042H04L41/0895H04L41/40
Inventor CHANDA, ANUPAMTUBALTSEV, ARIELSHEN, HSINYIWANG, HUAWANG, ZIYOUSHEN, JIANJUNSINGH, PRADEEP
Owner NICIRA